Jesse Jackson arrested at Sensata plant

Rev. Jesse Jackson returned to Freeport on Wednesday and was one of 14 protesters arrested following a march onto the property at Sensata Technologies in Freeport after being warned against doing so.

By Nick Crow

Journal Standard

By Nick Crow

Posted Oct. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 24, 2012 at 7:27 AM

By Nick Crow

Posted Oct. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 24, 2012 at 7:27 AM

Freeport, Ill.

Rev. Jesse Jackson returned to Freeport on Wednesday and was one of 14 protesters arrested following a march onto the property at Sensata Technologies in Freeport after being warned against doing so.

“This is the essence of the American struggle,” said Jackson. “The fight to keep our jobs. This is not a fight for severance pay; it’s a fight for the salvation of our jobs.”

Sensata worker and spokesman Tom Gaulrapp estimated that only 60 people remain working in the plant out of the 170 total jobs due to be lost. Sensata develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and controls for auto companies.

“There is a war going on today for the soul of our nation,” Jackson said. “We’re at the heart of that war. We have a military surplus; the Chinese have a trade surplus. We have the guns, they have the jobs. It’s not a good trade off. There is something painful about this struggle. Here you are, you workers who have paid the dues, you all sit here as veterans of foreign wars, sit here as hard working, taxpaying, church going citizens. It seems that your best is not good enough and the policies are not fair.”

A large crowd gathered at the Sensata plant and chanted “no justice, no peace” and “we will never be defeated.” Police then began arresting people. Along with Jackson, those arrested were Sensata workers Dot Turner, Joanne Penniston and Bonnie Borman; Turner’s husband, Mel; Brandon Campbell, International Rep at UAW; Ted Dever, President UAW Local 592; President of UAW Local 1268 George Welitschinsky; former Rockford alderman Victory Bell; Keith Kelleher, President of SEIU Healthcare of Illinois and Indiana; Carolyn Ontjer, Jonna Lee, Bishop Tarvis Grant and Richard Montgomery. They were arrested for criminal trespassing, which is a city ordinance violation.

“It feels so good,” said Dot Turner, who has been employed at the plant for 43 years.

Upon their arrest, the 14 were taken to Freeport Fire Station #3, which is located at 1819 S. West Avenue, where they were processed.

“Now, you’re looking at an economic terrorism,” said Jackson. “If you use your most basic right, your right to fight back, if you use that right, they’ll threaten to fire you. How do you fire someone from a plant that’s closing? The plant has taken jobs away to China. They expect on November 5th, the day before the election, to close the plant. You vote in a democracy to be protected from terrorism.”

After being released, Jackson said that these protests will continue next week with greater numbers.

“It’s a bad policy and greedy investors stack the cards against the workers,” said Jackson. “So we fight back for fairness, we fight back for an even playing field.”